A wide spectrum of resources and information is available through Military One Source.  Military One Source can be accessed conveniently through a link from the home page of the Army Reserve Family Programs web portal.  Find information and support services related to legal matters, money matters, parenting, health issues, life transitions and referrals to in person counseling.  When there is a need, a consultant can refer a service member or eligible Family member to a licensed professional counselor in the local community for six sessions per issue at no cost to the Family member.  Call 800-342-9647 for more information.

Military OneSource face-to-face counseling sessions are short-term, problem-resolution-focused sessions that deal with emotional well-being on a variety of issues. Generally these have to do with improving relationships at home and at work, marital issues, grief and loss issues (normal reactions that would benefit from short-term support), adjusting to a change in situation (such as a return from deployment), and other issues.

Explore the broad range of services available through Military OneSource by clicking here.

The Periodic Health Assessment (PHA) is an annual screening that assesses the readiness and deployability of Soldiers. The PHA replaces the periodic five-year physical and previous cardiovascular screening programs. The PHA is a force-multiplier providing commanders with up-to-date medical status of Soldiers and a ready and deployable team. The PHA officially went into practice in November of 2006. Already, 60 percent of Soldiers have completed their PHA. The remaining Soldiers need to complete their PHA by Nov. 1, 2008.

The PHA is a three part process: the Soldier completes an online questionnaire, then medical staff updates data and performs screening and counseling. The provider performs a symptom-focused exam, analyzes the health factors and completes the PHA process. During the initial online questionnaire, Soldiers report any current medical or dental problems as well as their Family history. All redeploying Soldiers will complete the PHA as part of the post deployment health reassessment during medical reset during 90-180 days following return from deployment. The PHA is geared towards preventative measures. For example, Soldiers over the age of 40 will be screened thoroughly for heart problems. If the PHA finds risk factors, medical professionals can work to mitigate those factors.

The deadline for completing the PHA is Nov. 1, 2008.  Soldiers can get started by logging on to Army Knowledge Online (AKO) and selecting the Periodic Health Assessment page.

Younger children have experienced difficulty adjusting to the return of a parent who may have been away for a large portion of the child’s young life or when the parent returns home changed due to a combat related injury.  Sesame Street’s Elmo and his friends are featured in a program titled “Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes”.  The program was developed to help military Families with young children between the ages of two and five build a sense of stability and resiliency during times of separation and change.

Talk, Listen, Connect: Deployments, Homecomings, Changes seeks to:

• Reduce the level of anxiety children may experience during homecomings after multiple deployments
• Help parents with ways to cope with multiple deployments
• Help young children gain an age-appropriate understanding of a parent’s injury by including them and the entire Family in the rehabilitation process
• Reassure children that they are loved and secure and that together with their Families, they can learn new ways of being there for one another and having hope for the future

Military Families can request their free kit at www.sesameworkshop.org/tlc.

Army Reserve Soldiers who are mobilized have a number of rights related to being able to return to their civilian jobs after serving their country.  The ESGR is a national and local organization that operates a proactive program directed at U.S. employers, employees, and communities that ensures understanding and appreciation of the role of the National Guard and the Reserve.

The ESGR assists in preventing, resolving, or reducing employer and/or employee problems and misunderstandings that result from National Guard or Reserve membership, training, or duty requirements through information services and informal mediation.

Soldiers can access the resources of the ESGR through local contacts that can be found on the ESGR Website or by calling 1-800-336-4590. The ESGR is composed of 4,200 staff members and volunteers.

Unlike the active component of the Army, many Army Reserve Soldiers are self-employed or run small businesses. As Army Reserve mobilizations increased call-ups increased after the Sept. 11 attacks, few Army Reserve business owners knew that they would be away from their businesses for as long or as often or how their companies would survive while they were gone.

The Small Business Administration has a number of programs through the Office of Veteran’s Business Development

The U.S. Small Business Administration offers help through its Military Reservist Economic Injury Disaster Loan (MREIDL) program. Launched to support business owners and essential employees affected by a deployment, the program provides working capital loans  up to $1.5 million to help eligible small businesses cover operating costs that cannot be met due to the loss of an essential employee called up to active duty.

An “essential employee” is defined as an individual (whether or not an owner of the small business) whose managerial or technical expertise is critical to the successful daily operation of the small business.  The business must also demonstrate substantial economic injury caused by the deployment of the key employee.

Army Reserve Soldiers who are self employed or who can be classified as “essential employees” can find additional information by visiting the SBA Web site by clicking here.

To ensure veterans with emotional crises have round-the-clock access to trained professionals, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates a national suicide prevention hotline for veterans. To operate the national hotline, VA is partnering with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Veterans can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press "1" to reach the Veterans Hotline.

The Army focuses on three key strategies to prevent suicides - training the Army Family in positive life skills, buddy care and counseling through a variety of ways.  Soldiers who commit suicide usually do so because they can't see another way out of a painful situation.  Frequent and longer deployments add yet more burdens, especially on relationships.

If you have a child who is changing schools or who is having difficulty making the transition, check out the MCEC for resources for parents and teachers by clicking here.

The Army Reserve Family Programs Outreach and Support Office is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 866.345.8248. 

Contact Family Programs: The Army Reserve Family Programs Web Portal, www.arfp.org, has been designed to help the Family, Friends and Employers of Army Reserve Soldiers find all the information they need.  The preceding has just been some highlights of the information available on the web portal.  You can browse through the Portal to find other information, forward this information to other Army Reserve Families or contact your local Family Programs office.

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